Petite Paint Pots

We're still working on the small redo of our master bathroom.  Funny how a small reno project is taking so much time to finish.  The work officially began in this bathroom way back in July of 2010 when we had some drywall repair work done.  We're coming up close to two years of my bathroom being semi-torn apart.  

It's time to "git-r-done", don't ya think?!

Well, I guess it's not that small.  We're doing quite a bit of tiling around the whirlpool tub, the backsplashes around the tub and vanity countertop and tiling the vinyl floor.  We ordered a new vanity counter top, and I'll be painting the vanity cabinet base white.  Of course the walls will need to be painted, and for that I've had some trouble picking out a paint color. I want the colors in there to flow with the fairly new bedroom colors.

The bedroom colors:
Ceiling - "Tranquility"
Walls - "Juniper Breeze"

When describing the colors I'm going for, think of a spa feel or beach glass.  

 Those restful blues, greens, greys, light browns.

In doing this small reno of our bathroom on a tight budget, we're leaving the main fixtures - toilet, tub and shower stall. When we had this house built back in 1993, we choose a color called Dove Grey for those fixtures, which is a pale grey, and I can live with that color.  Unlike the rose, laminate countertop I picked for the vanity.  Yuck!!!  As I mentioned, we've ordered a new solid, granite-like countertop with  molded sink bowls.

What was I thinking with that rose?????  

Guess I was still influenced by the decor colors of the 80's.  

Anyway, in trying to find the right color, I used Lowe's Valspar sample paints. {I love Valspar paint!  Especially the "Hi-Def" which has a primer mixed in.  It's a good quality paint at a good price.}  

What a wonderful thing!  

Instead of committing to a gallon, you get 7.7 ozs of paint that will cover a 4 foot square area for less than $3.00.  And whatever's left over, can be used for small craft projects, etc.

The pictures below are "swatches" I painted on different walls of the bathroom where the light hits differently at different times of the day.

I really thought I wanted one of the blues up there (Blue Sail and Peaceful Slumber), but I was afraid it would like too much like a little boy's room blue, know what I mean?  So, I ditched the blue idea and I'm going with Beach House, that color in the center.  It's actually close to the color of the walls in our bedroom.  I wanted a depth of color in between the pale grey walls and the maroon accent wall I had painted umpteen years ago.  

I bet you can make a good guess on what I'll be doing this weekend!  

Or at least I better be doing ;o)

Keeping my fingers crossed I've picked the right color.

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Bathroom Jewelry

My powder room's sporting some new jewelry.

Well, a new pendant light that is.

I'm sure you've all seen these in home improvement stores and on other blogs.

What a fabulous way to transform a boring old pot light into something special.  And so reasonably priced!  

The kit (which did not include a shade) I purchased at Lowe's was less then $20 and the glass shade I choose was less then $10.  Lowe's had a good variety of shades ranging in price from around $5 to $30.  

As you can see from the picture below, the fixture simply screws into the existing pot light receptacle.  Adjust the length of the cord.  Tighten a few screws, and Voila!  A quick and easy new look.

Not a bad light makeover for less then thirty bucks!

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A Little Pumpkin Facelift

Picked up this cute wood-look resin pumpkin at Walgreens the other day.

Nice as is, but it was a little chipped here and there.

Instead of touching up the chips, I decided to give a little facelift by changing it's color altogether.

I really like it.  

A new coat of paint topped with a coat of glaze gives it a nice, new look.  

I used a thin brown Sharpie to get into the letters to make the words stand out more.  

Think it might need a little raffia tie around the stem.

Today I'm going start unearthing some Christmas stored down in the basement.  

That's going to be a job!

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Say 'Ello to My Li'l Friend

Now, when you read that title up there, you have to do it in your best Al Pacino as Scarface voice. 

Granted my "li'l friend" isn't as deadly as a machine gun, but it's going to be my weapon of choice in the attack against my kitchen chairs. 

With all the turns and grooves in these chairs brushing would have been a nightmare.  Surely I would have used at least four cans of spray paint per chair ~ and there's six of them.  

My dear, sweet Hubby bought this spray gun that can be used with our air compressor a few weeks ago upon my request . . . okay pleading. 

But the darn weather here, for what seems like almost two weeks, has been so lousy.  Not good painting weather at all.   It's been damp and rainy.  And when it's not been raining, the humidity's been like 300%.

Finally a break! Today is clear, and not near as humid.  This weekend, and into next week, are supposed to be much better than it's been.  So now I have no excuse.  I'll be spending some time this weekend deep cleaning the dirt and grime off these chairs, lightly sanding and priming in prep for the paint.  

Hopefully within a couple weeks I'll have fresh, newly painted chairs.  

Then I'll be tackling the table . . . hopefully . . .

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Autumn Greetings

I found this quote and liked it so much I decided to print it out and frame it.

I repainted and distressed an inexpensive frame found in my frame graveyard in the basement.  Mounted the quote to a scrap of burlap, and glued a rusty tin leaf the frame.

The first dat of Autumn for us here is turning out to be a dark, damp, dreary day.  As a matter of fact, this whole week's been pretty damp and rainy.  It's felt more like living in the Pacific Northwest than along the Eastern Seaboard.

Guess all this wet weather will at least help contribute to some blazing fall foliage when the leaves turn.

Have a great weekend!

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No More Summer Slacking!

Around here, you can sense summer's coming to an end.  Hanging on to the last few days of sleeping in, staying up late, no real schedule, and blowing off stagnant home improvement and home dec projects.

About the only things I've kept up with this summer is the basic housework, my exercise routine, a weekly round of golf and some gardening. 

Son No. 1 went back to school in North Carolina last week.  Son No. 2, who lives on campus here in Delaware, and Son No. 3, who'll be starting 8th grade, start back next Monday.  And with only a couple weeks left in August, and the nights getting a bit cooler, you can certainly feel the change in the air.

So, next week I'm vowing to get myself back into . . . well, everything I've been putting off this summer.  

Like, straightening up and deep cleaning my craft room.  It's a mess!

Making a new counter skirt and window treatment in the craft room with this new fabric.  I think it's going to look great with the pink shaggy area rug and the green apple walls!

Cleaning up and sorting through all that stuff under the table in the living room.  What's the deal with all that junk? Well, that's stuff I was using when creating new summertime vignettes here and there around the house, and it just got stuffed under there.  Outta of site, outta of mind, right?!

Our master bathroom.  UGGHHHH!!!  I'm almost embarrassed to show these pics.  

We started this mini-reno almost exactly a year ago.  We had some drywall repair done and that begun the long needed makeover.  Because we honestly can't afford to replace fixtures and completely overhaul the bathroom, we're hoping some updates will help out this tired-looking space.  First of all, fresh paint on the walls.  Since we have to keep the big fixtures like the tub, shower, etc., I can live with their pale grey color, so I'm working with color scheme that compliments.  I tell everyone to think beach glass.  Pale greens, blues, greys and whites.  

A new tile floor and tile around the tub to cover the ugly cedar planking painted grey should help.  And some white bead board paneling on the front.  BTW, I hate that the tub is situated on an angle.  I've never been able to figure out what to do with all the space back there.  Any suggestions/ideas would be greatly appreciate ;o)

I picked out glass tiles for the backsplash around the tub and behind the vanity, below, which will be getting a new coat of heirloom paint and a new vanity top and sinks, and, of course, new vanity hardware.  New light fixtures and new shower doors will give this bathroom the facelift it desperately needs.

This project, primarily the tiling, is Hubby's.  And it's been slow-going, mainly because he's been working tons of overtime, annnddddd playing quite a bit of golf on the weekends this summer. Which I can't complain about.  He's been working so hard, and golf really relaxes him.  He knows he's going to have to get busy back on the project soon, though . . . hint, hint, Hon!

Another project waiting in the wings for way too long is the painting and refinishing of the kitchen table and chairs (this table does have a leaf that's out right now and six chairs altogether).  The chairs are getting a fresh new coat of glazed heirloom white paint, and the table top's getting refinished with a new coat of stain - I think.  

Not sure if I should restain it or paint it.  Suggestions?  

And I haven't decided if I'm going to paint the base glazed heirloom white or black.  Guess it would depend on what I decide to do the top.  Again, suggestions?

So among so many other big projects needing to get down around here, such as; pulling up the carpet in the finished basement and putting down the wood floor we purchased over a year ago; painting and redecorating that space; repainting the third bedroom; restaining the boy's bathroom vanity; painting and organizing our master bedroom closet; etceterAH, etceterAH, etceterAH . . .  (saying that in my head in my best Yul Brenner voice from the King and I).

All these projects, big and small, are gonna require a big swift kick in the butt for me.  Part of the reason, besides just summer slacking for not getting a lot of them done or at least started, is I just think I've lost a bit of my mojo.  I need some real motivation to get these projects going and completed, and some serious inspiration to make some much need decor changes around my home.  

I'm hoping when Son No. 3 gets back into school next week, and I have a few full days at home alone, I can get going on these projects and more.  How are all of you getting back on schedule now that summer's almost over?   It can be a tough transition some years!

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EASY WALL ART ON THE CHEAP!

As some of you may remember, I've been on a marathon . . . a l-o-n-g marathon . . . redoing my master bedroom.  You'd think I was having new pieces of furniture made to order, and rich, delectable fabrics and textiles custom made into designer one-of-a kind window treatments and accessories.  Or maybe the time's been spent patiently waiting for a skilled artisian to complete a faux finishing or wall mural in the room.  

Alas, I can not blame the snail's pace of a redo on any of the above. Only on myself, and my laziness, and at times, empty wallet! LOL  

But, it's getting there! :o)  

Little by little!

I shared a snippet of the room a few months ago when I painted a few pieces {below} with that yummy paint color, Malted Milk, that I just adore.

Today, I'm sharing the back wall of the room ~ the wall that's seen as you walk through the bedroom door.  What I'm most excited about and it doesn't take much to get me excited sometimes is the "wall art" I created with re-painted frames found in my frame graveyard in the basement and scrapbook paper.  

I actually purchased this particular pack of matching papers at a convention this past summer specifically to use in my bedroom.  The colors in the patterns of these papers works perfectly coordinating with the blues, greens and browns I've chosen for the room.  

Oh, I know it's not a unique idea, and I know we've seen this done all over blogland.  Heck, I was inspired by Angie at Echoes of Laughter for this very project.  Even though it's not original, I'm just so tickled with how the whole wall "vignette" turned out, I just had to share.  

So for practically pennies, I was able to fill a "hole" on the wall with something quite appealing.  

I snagged this super-cute wall hanger,
door knob thingy at Pier 1 on clearance.

New window treatments were finally sewn and mounted, but I'm not entirely thrilled with how they turned out.  I may be adding some large covered buttons or some trim to jazz them up a bit.  You'll have to wait for their big debut.

  

There's still quite a bit left to do.  The bed-side tables and a chest at the foot of the bed are going to get a fresh coat of Malted Milk paint. A few more walls need to be addressed, a couple pillow covers still to be sewn, and the room will finally be done.  Then, I'll share it's big total reveal with before and after snaps.  But, as in my oh-so-not speedy fashion, those final projects will have to wait until after the Holidays. ;o)

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WINE BOTTLE REPURPOSED INTO AN OIL LAMP

How cool is this?  

Any narrow-necked bottle can be transformed into an oil lamp using these cool bottle stopper wicks.  I picked a couple of these wick thingys years ago.  Somewhere.  Don't remember where now.

You simply stick them in a bottle that you've filled with lamp oil.  Of course I had to embellish my bottle a bit.  

Jute wrapped around the neck. 

A pendant found in the jewelry supply aisle at Michael's.  

Part of a map torn from an old road atlas that I "aged" using distressing ink and GlimmerMist {It's actually part of Delaware!}.

These would make great gifts if I can find more of the wick thingys!  

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